T

mbg Contributing Writer

Griffiths prefers a hybrid mattress, because it integrates foam with pocketed-coils, creating a balanced and structured support that anyone will benefit from, but is particularly great for teenage athletes, who need additional support as they grow. It’s also one of the less expensive models, so you won’t have to spend an arm and a leg to prioritize your child’s health.

This hybrid is made with copper-infused memory foam, which gives a cooling effect, and individually-encased coils from edge-to-edge, so you have more room to sprawl out without sacrificing support. It’s a medium-firm mattress that’s on the thicker side at 13-inches, yet design still offers great motion transfer control—which is beneficial if you’re sleeping with a partner that tends to move around a lot.

The materials are GREENGUARD Gold-certified for low emissions, the foams are CertiPUR-US Certified, and all mattresses are made in the United States. The mattress will ship within two to seven days, arriving compressed and rolled in a box. Keep in mind that you may need an extra set of hands to help with setup.

What customers say:

This mattress has more than 3,000 reviews yet still retains a 4.4-star rating overall. What’s more, it’s athlete-approved. One writes, “I’m an athlete, so sleep recovery is mission critical. I did a month of research before buying my mattress on various mattresses and all high end brands tailored to athletes. I ended up choosing a Bear Hybrid because they state it’s the best choice for somebody who has multiple sleeping positions. I was using a 15-year-old mattress and didn’t really realize how much it was affecting my recovery… Now I do. It’s noticeable & my sleep metric data (Oura ring) shows it.”

This hybrid model combines foam with up to 950 individually-wrapped, 8-inch coils for a comfy-yet-supported feel. Side sleepers specifically will benefit from the way this mattress contours to your body, thanks to the ergonomic support and cushioning of its middle foam layer. And per our expert’s recommendation, it’s medium-firm with pressure-point relief that makes it ideal for athletes and weightlifters. Sleep hot? There’s also an option to add a cooling cover for an additional $149.

Weightlifters who are looking for a bit more targeted lumbar support and back pressure relief might want to try the brand’s Luxe model, which has two additional layers and a quilted pillow top for additional comfort.

Shipped via Fed Ex, it comes compressed in a box. Once dropped at your doorstep, it should be a fairly easy set up.

What customers say:

Another well-reviewed pick with more than 5,00 ratings, this mattress earns shout outs from shoppers with back pain. A reviewer writes, “I am an athletic person and have done it all, PT, yoga, core workouts, etc. Within 2 to 3 days of sleeping on this mattress, the pain is gone. Literally gone.”

This eco-friendly hybrid mattress is made with organic, sustainably-sourced materials, and has multiple certifications, including: GREENGUARD gold certified, GOTS Certified Organic and fair-trade certified factory. With targeted lumbar support to keep your body in alignment, and layered latex for adequate pressure relief, this is a great pick for any athlete. It’s particularly supportive for stomach sleepers, thanks to the overall firmer feel, and side sleepers will love the way it cradles their hips and shoulders.

If you’re suffering from an injury (or you tend to overdo it in your workouts), this is one of our favorite mattresses for back pain, too. The organic materials also create a naturally cool sleep environment. It will be shipped in a box (compressed and rolled up), and you shouldn’t experience any off-gassing smells.

What an expert says:

Sleep doctor Meredith Brokerick, M.D., sleeps on this mattress, and praises its high-quality materials as a crucial factor when it comes to selecting a mattress.

Another model created specifically with recovery in mind, this mattress has far infrared ray technology woven into its cover, which helps turn your body heat into energy to promote blood flow and muscle recovery. The 8-inch base is made with more than 1,000 coils, providing pressure-relieving support for your joints. Add the gel-infused memory foam layer and you’ll get added body temperature regulation to keep you cool all night.

Although it arrives compressed in a box, you’ll want to give this mattress some time to fully expand. Once it does, you’ll be able to sleep on it right away with minimal off-gassing smells. While some reviewers find this mattress to be too soft overall, there are three firmness options to choose from: soft, medium, and firm. If you end up not liking yours, you have 120 nights to return it.

What customers say:

This bed has an overall rating of 4.7 out of five stars from plenty of reviewers who mention relief from back and shoulder pain. A shopper raves, “Within the first 3 nights, I no longer had achy back & shoulder pain upon awakening. Don’t get me wrong—I am an athlete and still have “soreness”—but it is related directly to my training and NOT my recovery!”

We’ve featured this bed in our picks for the best mattresses for pressure points, and while it uses synthetic materials, the design is a solid option for athletes who prefer the feel of memory foam—especially if you tend to sleep hot.

The dual-action cooling cover uses heat-conductive copper fibers to keep you cool throughout the night, while the gel-infused memory foam reacts to your body to aid with body temperature regulation. When paired with memory foam—which adapts to your body to relieve pressure points and encourage spinal alignment—the combo becomes the ultimate pick for athletes that want to experience less aches, pains, and stiffness at night.

Similar to other options, the mattress ships compressed and rolled in a box. However, it’s on the heavier side, and the brand recommends giving the mattress at least 24 hours to expand before putting it to use.

What customers say:

This mattress exceeds most expectations with a rating just below a perfect 5-stars. According to one shopper, “This mattress is the perfect blend of soft comfort and firm support. I fall asleep so fast now. As an athlete rest and recovery is essential to my lifestyle and this mattress is a true oasis. Thank you nectar for this treasure.”

If you want the best mattress for athletes, why not go directly to the source? Co-designed by Venus Williams, this mattress uses a proprietary blend of far infrared minerals, which reacts to your natural body heat and reflects it back to you as far infrared light (which research has shown to be impactful for fitness recovery). These infrared waves increase circulation and blood flow, targeting sore muscles and tissues for a better recovery.

While memory foam is not a sustainable choice, the mattress has a cooling cover made from 25% recycled water bottles, which is a decent nod at sustainability. Plus, if you do decide to return your mattress, it will be donated or recycled. Bonus: It can be slept on as soon as it arrives and is unpacked from the box.

What customers say:

While this mattress only has 58 reviews so far, 97% of those people would recommend it to a friend—and it has 4.8 out of five stars overall. A reviewer says, “The best sleep ever. I’m amazed with how comfortable it is and how I feel when I wake up every day. I cannot stop raving about the quality we are getting with this bed.” Others mention the infrared technology, saying they believe it has been helpful in their recovery process.

Griffiths herself sleeps on this plant-based, hybrid mattress, and she gives it extra points for sustainability and high quality materials. The advanced pressure relief option is great for athletes, as it adds extra plushness for the shoulders and hips, while still supporting your neck, head, and lower body.

With a 100% bamboo top cover, cool gel foam, natural latex, natural copper, and open cell foams, this bed was built to keep you cool. It’s also certified by the Canadian Chiropractic Association for promoting proper spinal alignment, providing pressure relief, and offering a high level support. Plus, this company emphasizes social responsibility, and donates one mattress for every 10 purchased. Shipping on your rolled-and-compressed mattress is free.

What customers say:

This mattress has more than 700 5-star ratings. People rave about the way it’s relieved their aches and pains, with one person even writing, “I was thinking my morning aches, pains and stiffness were just something that came with getting older but after a few nights on our new Haven mattress I was waking up without the stiff aching shoulders and hips. An amazing improvement—I love it! Thank you!”

One of the best smart beds on the market, the ReST Bed is a standout in smart bed technology. The perfect pick for athletes who want to supercharge their sleep experience, it’s beloved by triathlon champions, Ironman champions, and professional athletes alike, who all speak openly about their love for this mattress.

While it’s not a sustainable choice (not many smart beds are), the smart features ensure a curated sleep experience, with a sensor that reads your body’s pressure points, and silently adjusts to relieve them. The bed tracks and houses your sleep data in its corresponding app—which you can use to control the firmness, too, if you prefer a manual adjustment.

There’s also an option to memory-lock your preferences for side or back sleeping, so the bed will adjust settings as you move positions throughout the night. This level of customization is key for athletes.

This mattress comes with free in-home delivery, so the brand will send a two-man team to deliver and install your bed into the room of your choice, at no additional cost to you. You can also have them remove your current mattress, for a one-time fee of $149.

What customers say:

The bed has a 4.8 rating overall with a ton of rave reviews about its comfort and the difference the smart features make in their sleep routine. A shopper writes, “This is truly an amazing mattress. It automatically adjusts to your body’s pressure points while you sleep. There are several preset positions, but my personal favorite is the zero gravity. Customer service is excellent, too.”